Archaeologists in Oise have uncovered the remains of a massive but previously unknown second-century Roman building in a field where a hypermarket is to be built. 

They do not have long to work out exactly what it was used for, as developers are scheduled to move in and start work on the shopping mall in July. 

The ancient construction, which is estimated to have been at least 70m long and 9m high, was found under a disused football field in Pont-Sainte-Maxence, along the ancient Roman road Compiègne-Senlis, which is a national route in France today.